How to keep fleas off your dog and out of your home

April 19, 3:56 AMCheyenne Dogs ExaminerMohala Johnson

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With the winter weather dissipating, hopefully, spring brings sunshine and those pests that we rather live without.

Here are some helpful ways to help keep you and your Dog safe and flea free.

Natural Earth friendly methods:
• Eucalyptus Leaves- You can find at any craft store, fleas don’t like their smell.
• Cedar Chips- Place along your fence line, keeps fleas from transferring yards.
• Plant Tansy- an herb, it’s safe for dogs, and fleas don’t like it.
• As a repellent- thin slice a lemon or lime (peals and all) into two cups of water. Heat the water to boiling and let sit overnight. Sponge the child or pet in the morning with the lemon scented water, and let it dry. It will soothe the skin, smell really nice, and keep the fleas off for about 1/2 a day.

Chemical aids:
• Borax- Non-toxic, sprinkle on your carpet, let it sit for a few days then vacuum it up, borax can also be used in the yard.
• DE (diatomaceous earth)- Found in swimming pool filtration systems, sprinkle over your yard.

Tips for your yard:
• Clean out your yard- clear any organic debris such as leaves, stray, grass clipping, ect. This will disturb the fleas habitat and allow your outdoor pesticide to work better, be it natural or chemical.
• Treating your yard with an environmentally safe spray containing fenvalerate or a spray that contains insect growth regulators, such as Nylar (pyriproxyfen) or methoprene
• Remember not to spray when or where runoff could go into lakes or rivers, be sure to read and follow all directions on labels.

Chemical treatments:
• There are a variety of different treatments out their, here is a link to a comparative list of:
Product, Active Ingredient, Species & Minimum Age, Dosage & Administration, Effects and Comments.
 

Shampoos, Dips, Sprays, Flea Collars, Oral and injectable products are also available in a wide array. Be sure to read all labels, directions, instructions to make sure the product you are using is safe for your pet. Size, breed, and coat thickness are all factors when choosing such things. If you are unsure ask your vet.

If you have had any personal experience with a product or service which has worked for you in the past, please feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

For my dogs, I give them regular baths with a preventative shampoo, daily brushes sometimes with a flea comb, not always as it is difficult with all their hair. As for my yard, I decided to give the cedar chips a try as they have managed to dig up all my grass.

Hopefully that was helpful and please leave me feed back on what works for you. Now to partake of your daily dose of dog, I leave you with a random thought…

An elderly woman was saved by her 12 pound Yorkshire Terrier who fought off an 80 pound Akita and survived with only 9 stitches

For more info: DogFacts , Mohala’sArticles , Image